In the endurance standings, Lisa and Sovička are in the lead, but there’s no room for complacency. Václav Janík, who also drives a KTM X-Bow GTX, trails by just two points. If Janík, teaming up with Petr Majer in Brno, claims victory, the title will be his.
The team knows that managing tyre wear will be crucial. The Brno circuit, with its asphalt dating back to 2008, is notoriously hard on tyres. This will be especially critical during Saturday’s hour-long endurance race.
“It’s going to be tough, especially with the heat. Tyre management will be the foundation of success,” Lisa acknowledged.
However, he believes that the X-Bow GTX may have an edge in this area, which could come into play in the closing stages of the race. “Our car is lighter than others and can manage its tyres better. That could give us an advantage toward the end, as other cars may wear out their tyres sooner. We might even beat some older-spec GT3 cars, as we’ve done several times this season,” Lisa said optimistically.
Although Pavel Sovička has raced at Brno on both motorcycles and in cars, this will be his first outing on the Masaryk Circuit in the KTM X-Bow GTX. Heading into the weekend, he admitted that the track isn’t among his favourites.
“It’s never been a top track for me, whether on a bike or in a car. Combined with the heat, tyre longevity will be key. Those who can preserve their tyres will have a significant advantage. Thankfully, our car is better at managing tyre wear, so I hope that will play to our strengths,” he agreed with his teammate.
Sovička enters the Brno weekend in a promising position not just in endurance but also in the sprint standings. While currently second, he is just four points behind leader Alexander Ober. Crucially, the Austrian does not appear on the entry list. However, Sovička remains cautious.
“We’ll see if he doesn’t show up at the last minute. I don’t want to rely on it. I’ve been in this situation before, like last weekend during the mini racing event in Cheb. My rival Michal Salač wasn’t there initially, but he turned up in the end,” he explained.
He acknowledged that securing the title would be a proud achievement for both him and RTR Projects: “It would clearly demonstrate that this team can elevate a driver to great heights, even in their first season,” he said.
As usual, the pilots will take part in three races. The first will be the opening sprint on Saturday from 12:35. It will be followed by the endurance race (17:20). On Sunday, the second sprint will close the season (14:00).
